Apparatus for mixing metered quantities of lubricating oil with gasoline



June 22, 1965 s. v. LAVER 3,190,504

APPARATUS FOR MIXING METERED QUANTITIES 0F LUBRICATING OIL WITH GASOLINE File d Dec. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 22, 1965 s. v. LAVER 3,190,504

APPARATUS FOR MIXING METERED QUANTITIES OF LUBRICATING OIL WITH GASOLINE Filed Dec. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent This invention relates to apparatus for mixing metered quantities of lubricating oil with gasoline. Such apparatus may form part of an otherwise standard electric gasoline pump or dispenser, or it may be an attachment therefor.

The present invention enables a service station proprietor to dispense a blended mixtures of gasoline and lubricating oil for use, for example, in two-stroke internal combustion engines. The proportion of lubricating oil to gasoline may be selected by the operator for example up to 6% (.48 pint/ gallon) (or any other suitable ratio) by 1% increments or any other desired increments. The invention allows the dispensing of gasoline without oil by leaving the oil nozzle in a receptacle therefor on the face of a housing or cabinet which contains most of the mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline by utilizing an electric type gasoline dispenser, and a source of oil under pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a conventional gasoline dispenser by means of which metered quantities of oil may be mixed with the gasoline delivered by the dispenser. Further objects will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a gasoline dispenser to which has been added components which enable the mixing of metered quantities of lubricating oil with the gasoline delivered by the dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram of the oil metering and delivery means.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, a known electric gaso-- line dispenser, with the cover removed, is shown at 1. The dispenser includes an electric drive motor 2, a gasoline pump 3 delivering gasoline from an underground tank to measuring and metering means including 2. gallons indicator 5 and, if desired, a price indicator 6, and then to a gasoline hose 7 connected to a hand-controlled valve t.- and having a nozzle 9. The gasoline dispenser as far described above is well-known in the art. An oil pump 4 is provided inside the gasoline dispenser frame and is driven from the shaft of the gasoline pump or by other suitable means. The oil pump delivers oil from an oil reservoir to the valves and control arrangements contained in a cabinet or housing ill, and then to an oil hose ill by which it is delivered to a blending nozzle 12 in which the oil is mixed with the gasoline. The blending nozzle 12 is shown as being attached to the end of the nozzle 9 When gasoline is only going to be pumped, the blending nozzle is detached from the nozzle 9 and is secured in the aperture 13, which is covered by a weather cowl id.

The oil reservoir is contained in the base of the cabinet Patented June 22, l9fi5 ice It). A hand-Wheel or dial 15 is provided which is cali brated in proportions of gasoline-to-oil, for example in the proportions 100:1, 50:1, 33%:1, 25:1, 20:1 and 16%:1. A transparent member 16 is provided through which the oil passes to the pipe 11.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, oil lines are shown as solid lines and air lines with double lines. The oil reservoir is shown at 17 and has a transparent viewable glass 18 so that an operator can determine when the reservoir should be topped up with oil. Oil is delivered via a filter I9 and line 2t to the oil pump 4, and thence by way of oil lines 21 and 22 to a pneumatically operated shuttle or cross-over piston valve Excess oil is returned to the reservoir by way of oil lines 24 and 25. Oil line 24 is also connected to a diaphragm valve 26 whose function will be described later.

The cross-over. valve 23 permits oil to be delivered to either side of a free piston measuring cylinder 27 while at the same time the other side is exhausting back through the valve 23 to the oil line 28 and thence to the transparent member 16 and oil line ill, by way of a changeover valve 28A.

In the position of the cross-over valve shown in FIG- UB5 2 oil from line 22 passes out of the lower port 29 of valve 23 to the lower port 39 of the measuring cylinder 2'7 and thus to the underside of the free piston 31. The oil pressure causes oil on the other side of the piston 31 to be exhausted through the upper port 32, thence to upper port 47 of valve 23, port 34 of valve 23 and line 23. This continues until the free piston 31 abuts against the end 35 of a calibrating screw 36. On the next stroke of the free piston oil under pressure will be delivered to the upper side of the free piston 31, causing oil to be exhausted from the underside through ports 39, 29 and 37 to the line 28. It will be apparent that the quantity of oil delivered will be dependent upon the distance that metering screw 38 extends into the cylinder 27, since this determines the stroke of the piston 31. The extent to which the screw 38 extends into the cylinder depends upon the setting of the dial 15.

As mentioned above oil is delivered from the free piston measuring cylinder 27 each time the piston 31 is moved from one end of the cylinder to the other, and this occurs under the control of the cross-over valve 23, which in turn is pneumatically operated by a control system including a cam 39 on the gasoline meter drive shaft (see also FIGURE 1).

The pneumatic control system includes a pipe 4% from a source of compressed air and an air control valve 41 by which compressed air is supplied through air-line 42 to two cam-operated poppet valves 43, 44. The valves are operated by the cam 39 which as shown is a two-lobe cam and is driven by the gasoline meter drive shaft. In the position shown compressed air passes through valve 43 to the top servo-cylinder of cross-over valve 23, forcing the piston 45' down so that the inlet port 46 is connected to the port 47 and the piston 31 will then be forced down to expel oil through ports 30, 29 and 37 to the delivery line. One quarter revolution later valve 43 will close and valve 44 open so that the operation is reversed, piston 45 being returned to the position shown. Accordingly there are four operations of the valve 23 for each revolution of the cam 3%. In the particular gasoline drive illustrated in FIGURE 1 there are four complete revolutions of the drive shaft for each gallon of gasoline: accordingly there will be 16 metered oil injections per gallon of gasoline. By varying the stroke of the free piston 31 the proportion of oil to gasoline can be varied.

The oil or blending nozzle 12 is fitted with a springoperated check valve 48 so that the oil hose 11 remains full of oil.

The oil system is rendered operative when oil is required by means of an air control valve 4-1 which is opened by the action of removing the oil nozzle 12 from its hanger. When the oil nozzle is removed the pivoted arm 49 moves downwardly about the pivot 50, opening the lower poppet valve 51 so that compressed air passes to the airline 42, and closing the upper poppet valve 52.

When gasoline is only required the oil nozzle 12 is removed from the end of the gasoline nozzle and is hung in the cabinet '10, thereby displacing the pivoted arm 49 to the position shown on FIGURE 2. This closes the poppet valve 51 so that compressed air is prevented from reaching the pneumatic lines, and at the same time opens the pneumatic lines to the atmosphere through poppet valve 52. The arm 49 also raises a rod 60 whose lower end rests on the arm 49 and whose upper end abuts against the operating button of a microswitch 61 in the main motor electric supply circuit, and closes the switch so that power is supplied to the main motor.

Means are provided to guard against operation of the whole system if oil or air pressure fails when oil is to be delivered. When the nozzle 12 is removed and attached onto the end of the gasoline nozzle the pivoted arm 49, in addition to opening valve 51 as previously described, allows rod 60 to drop unless both oil and air pressure greater than some predetermined minimum is available. These means include two diaphragm type pressure sensing devices 26, 53. Oil under pressure is supplied to the device 26 and compressed air is supplied to device 53. The diaphragms 54, 55 are displaced by the oil and air pressures against the springs 56, 57. When the oil and air pressure are both greater than a predetermined minimum the plungers 58, 59 rise displacing the rod 66 which closes a micro-switch 61 in the main motor circuit. If either diaphragm reports a loss of pressure the switch 61 opens the main motor circuit and the entire system closes down.

A mechanical override is also provided to prevent faulty operation due to low oil level in the oil reservoir 17. A float 62 is coupled to a bell crank lever 63 having an arm 64 that will prevent the pivoted arm 49 from being lowered when the nozzle 12 is removed if the oil level is too low, thus preventing compressed air from reaching the pneumatic lines. However, if oil is already being delivered when the oil level reaches the low level the service will not be interrupted since the valve 51 will already be open. The reservoir has an adequate oil reserve for this purpose.

The cross-over valve 28A in the oil delivery line opens this line to the oil reservoir during adjustment of the dial 15 before oil is delivered so that oil does not leak through the nozzle but is returned to the tank. The operator is instructed always to set the dial 15 to the desired gasolineoil ratio before removing the nozzle 12. Accordingly the air in the pneumatic lines is at atmospheric pressure, the piston 65 is returned by the spring 66 to the opposite end of its cylinder to that shown, and port 67 is connected to port 68. When compressed air is supplied to the system the port 6-7 communicates with port 69 as shown.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline comprising a gasoline dispenser including a pump, an electric motor for driving the pump, an electric supply circuit for said motor, a source of oil under pressure, a gasoline meter driven by said pump for measuring the quantity of gasoline delivered, means coupled to said gasoline meter for generating impulses as gasoline is delivered,

a gasoline delivery nozzle to which gasoline is delivered, a blending nozzle detachably connected to said gasoline delivery nozzle, said blending nozzle having a mixing chamber, means for delivering gasolien from said gasoline dispenser to said mixing chamber by way of said gasoline delivery nozzle, means for delivering oil from the source to said mixing chamber in response to said impulses, an electric switch in said electric circuit, a housing adapted for receiving said blending nozzle with the latter detached from the gasoline delivery nozzle, means operated by said blending nozzle with the latter received by said housing to close said electric switch, and means for metering the amount of oil delivered for each impulse.

2. Apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline comprising a gasoline dispenser including a pump, an electric motor for driving said pump, an electric sup ply circuit for said motor, a gasoline meter for measuring the quantity of gasoline delivered, a drive-shaft between said gasoline meter and said pump, a source of oil under pressure, a cam on said drive-shaft, a source of compressed air, valve means operatively associated with said source of compressed air and operated by the cam to generate pulses of compressed air, a gasoline delivery nozzle, a blending nozzle detachably connected to said gasoline delivery nozzle, said blending nozzle having a mixing chamber, means for delivering a measured quantity of oil from said oil source to said mixing chamber for each pulse of compressed air, an electric switch in said motor circuit, a housing adapted for receiving said blending nozzle with the latter detached from the gasoline delivery nozzle, means operated by said blending nozzle to close said switch with the blending nozzle received in said housing and to open said switch when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing and means for closing the electric switch even when said blending nozzle is removed from said housing if either said oil and said compressed air pressures exceed preset minimum magnitudes thereof.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means operated by said blending nozzle when the latter is received in said housing to close the said valve means to close communication with the source of compressed air.

4. Apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline comprising a gasoline dispenser including a pump, an electric motor for driving the gasoline pump, a gasoline meter for measuring the quantity of gasoline dclivered, a driveshaft between the meter and the pump, a gasoline delivery nozzle, 21 source of oil under pressure, a cam on the drive-shaft, a source of compressed air, two valves connected to said source of compressed air and operated in succession by the said cam, a crossover valve having an inlet supplied With oil from said source of oil, a piston in said cross-over valve operated by the compressed air from said two valves so as to be displaced in succession from one position to another, a free piston measuring cylinder and a free piston therein, connections from the cross-over valve to the latter cylinder on each side of the free piston therein whereby oil is delivered from the cross-over valve to one side of the free piston and oil is delivered from the other side of the free piston through the cross-over valve to an oil delivery line when the piston of the cross-over valve is in one position, and oil is delivered from the cross-over valve to the said other side of the free piston and oil is delivered from the said one side of the free piston through the cross-over valve to the oil delivery line when the piston of the cross-over valve is in the other of the positions thereof, means for varying the stroke of the free piston to vary the amount of oil delivered by the free piston on each operation thereof, a blending nozzle removably connected to the gasoline delivery nozzle, said blending nozzle having a mixing chamber, a connection from the oil delivery line to the mixing chamber, an electric switch in the motor circuit, a housing adapted for receiving the blending nozzle when the latter is disconnected from the gasoline delivery nozzle, means for holding the electric switch closed when the blending nozzle is in said housing and for allowing the switch to open when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing, a valve in the compressed air line, means for closing said last-mentioned valve when the blending nozzle is in said housing and for opening the valve for the supply of compressed air when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing, an oil pressure sensing device connected to the source of oil under pressure, a compressed air sensing device coupled to said compressed air source via said last-mentioned valve, and means operated by the sensing devices for holding the electric switch closed even when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing if either the oil and compressed air pressures exceed preset minimum magnitudes.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including a second cross-over valve coupled to the oil source, an inlet to the second cross-over valve to receive oil delivered by the free piston through the first cross-over valve, a first outlet to the second cross-over valve connected to return oil to the source thereof, a second outlet to the second crossover valve connected to the mixing chamber, and a compressed air operated piston operating the second crossover valve so that oil is delivered to the mixing chamber when compressed air is supplied to the piston.

6. Apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline comprising a gasoline dispenser including a pump, an electric motor for driving the gasoline pump, a gasoline meter driven by said pump for measuring the quantity of gasoline delivered, a drive-shaft between the meter and the pump, a gasoline delivery nozzle, a source of oil under pressure, a cam on the drive-shaft, a source of compressed air, two valves connected to the source of compressed air and operated in succession by the said cam, a cross-over valve having an inlet supplied with oil from the said source of oil, a piston in said cross-over valve operated by the compressed air from said two valves so as to be displaced in succession from one position to another, a free piston measuring cylinder and a free piston therein, connections from the cross-over valve to the latter cylinder on each side of the free piston therein whereby oil is delivered from the cross-over valve to one side of the free piston and oil is delivered from the other side of the free piston through the cross-over valve to an oil delivery line when the piston of the cross-over valve is in one position, and oil is delivered from the cross-over valve to the said other side of the free piston and oil is delivered from the said one side of the free piston through the cross-over valve to the oil delivery line when the piston of the cross-over valve is in the other of the positions therein, means for varying the stroke of the free piston to vary the amount of oil delivered by the free piston on each operation thereof and means coupled to the oil delivery line and to the dispenser for the mixing and the discharge of oil and gasoline.

'7. In apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline from a gasoline dispenser including a pump driven by an electric motor, and an electric supply circuit for said motor, the combination of a source of oil under pressure, a gasoline meter, means coupled to the gasoline meter for generating impulses as gasoline is delivered, a gasoline delivery nozzle, a blending nozzle detachably connected to the gasoline delivery nozzle, said blending nozzle having a mixing chamber for gasoline and oil, means for delivering oil from the said source to the mixing chamber in response to said impulses, an electric switch connected in said motor circuit, a housing for said blending nozzle, means operated by said blending nozzle with the latter received by said housing to close the said electric switch, and means for metering the amount of oil delivered for each impulse.

8. In apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline from a gasoline dispenser driven by an electric motor, and an electric supply circuit for said motor, the combination of a source of oil under pressure, a gasoline meter, 21 source of compressed air, valves coupled to said gasoline meter to generate pulses of compressed air as gasoline is delivered, a gasoline delivery nozzle, a blending nozzle detachably connected to the gasoline de livery nozzle, said blending nozzle having a mixing chambet for gasoline and oil, means for delivering a measured quantity of oil from said source of oil to the mixing chamber for each pulse of compressed air, an electric switch connected in said motor circuit, a housing for the blending nozzle, means operated by said blending nozzle to close said switch with the blending nozzle received in said housing and to open said switch when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing, and means for holding the electric switch closed even when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing if either said oil and said compressed air pressures exceed preset minimum magnitudes thereof.

9. In apparatus for mixing metered quantities of oil with gasoline from a gasoline dispenser including a pump driven by an electric motor, the combination of a source of oil under pressure, a compressed air line, means for supplying compressed air pulses, said pulses passing through said air line, two valves connected to said source of compressed air and coupled to said gasoline pump so as to be operated in succession as gasoline is delivered to deliver spaced pulses of compressed air, a first cross-over valve having an inlet supplied with oil from said source of oil, a piston in the cross-over valve operated by the compressed air pulses so as to be displaced from a first position to a second position and then back to the first position to a second position and then back to the first position and so on by successive pulses, a free piston measuring cylinder and a free piston therein, a connection from the cross-over valve to the latter cylinder on each side of the free piston therein whereby oil is delivered from the cross-over valve to one side of said free piston and oil is delivered from the other side of the free piston through the cross-over valve when the piston of the crossover valve is in said first position and oil is delivered from the cross-over valve to the said other side of the free piston and oil is delivered from the said one side of the free piston through the cross-over valve when the piston of the cross-over valve is in the other of the positions thereof, means for varying the stroke of the free piston to vary the amount of oil delivered by the free piston on each displacement thereof and means coupled to the cross-over valve and to the dispenser for the mixing and the discharge of oil and gasoline.

10. In apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for the mixing and the discharging of oil and gasoline comprises an electric motor, an electric supply circuit for driving said motor, a gasoline delivery nozzle, a blending nozzle detachably connected to said gasoline delivery nozzle, said blending nozzle having a mixing chamher for gasoline and oil, means connecting the blending nozzle and the cross-over for the passage of oil, an electric switch in said motor circuit, a housing for the blending nozzle, means for holding the electric switch closed when the blending nozzle is in said housing and for allowing the switch to open when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing, a valve in said compressed air line, means for closing said valve when the blending nozzle is in said housing and for opening the valve to supply compressed air when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing.

11. In apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including an oil pressure sensing device connected to said source of oil under pressure, a compressed air sensing device in said compressed air line after said valve, and means operated by the sensing devices for closing said electric switch even when the blending nozzle is removed from said housing if either said oil and said compressed air pressures exceed preset minimum magnitudes thereof.

12. In apparatus as claimed in claim It including a second cross-over valve provided with an inlet and two outlets, said inlet being adapted to said second crossover valve to receive oil delivered by the free piston through said first cross-over valve, a first outlet to the sec-0nd cross-over valve connected to return oil to said source of oil, a second outlet to the second cross-over valve connected to the mixing chamber, a compressed air operated piston operating the second cross-over valve when compressed air is supplied to move said second cross-over valve from a position in which oil is delivered to said first outlet to a position in which oil is delvered to sad second outlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,096 11/32 Hurlbrink 222249 2,638,247 5/53 Taylor 2'22135 X 2,796,196 6/ 57 Ortner 222-134 X FOREIGN PATENTS 856,235 12/60 Great Britain.

10 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primizry Examiner.

HAD-D 5. LANE, Examiner. 

7. IN APPARATUS FOR MIXING METERED QUANTITIES OF OIL WITH GASOLINE FROM A GASOLINE DISPENSER INCLUDING A PUMP DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND AN ELECTRIC SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR SAID MOTOR, THE COMBINATION OF A SOURCE OF OIL UNDER PRESSURE, A GASOLINE METER, MEANS COUPLED TO THE GASOLINE METER FOR GENERATING IMPULSES AS GASOLINE IS DELIVERED, A GASOLINE DELIVERY NOZZLE, A BLENDING NOZZLE DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO THE GASOLINE DELIVERY NOZZLE, SAID BLENDING NOZZLE HAVING A MIXING CHAMBER FOR GASOLINE AND OIL, MEANS FOR DELIVERING OIL FROM THE SAID SOURCE TO THE MIXING CHAMBER IN RESPONSE TO SAID IMPULSES, AN ELECTRIC SWITCH CONNECTED IN SAID MOTOR CIRCUIT, A HOUSING FOR SAID BLENDING NOZZLE, MEANS OPERATED BY SAID BLENDING NOZZLE WITH THE LATTER RECEIVED BY SAID HOUSING TO CLOSE THE SAID ELECTRIC SWITCH, AND MEANS FOR METERING THE AMOUNT OF OIL DELIVERED FOR EACH INPULSE. 